Men’s soccer continues spring slate at Akron

The UK men’s soccer team will be in action Saturday against the Akron Zips at FirstEnergy Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

This is the third week of competition for the Cats and the fourth match of their 2013 spring schedule.

UK began their spring slate with home games against Southern Indiana, Georgetown College and Butler.

In their first road contest of 2013, the Cats will take on the 2010 NCAA champions who have opened their spring schedule with a 1-0 start.

Akron made its 2013 debut on March 8 when it defeated Cleveland State 1-0 with two of the Zips’ starters sidelined due to injury.

“It wasn’t a particularly pretty performance at times and we have a lot to improve on,” Akron head coach Jared Embick said to GoZips.com. “But for our first spring game, it was great to get a result against a team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament and returns eight starters.”

The Zips played their way through the 2012 regular season with an 18-1-3 record and a perfect 7-0 conference record, with their only loss of the season coming at Notre Dame.

Despite a successful start the postseason that saw Akron win the Mid-Atlantic Conference Tournament, the Zips were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Creighton in the Sweet 16.

Akron’s 2012 roster saw five players sign homegrown contracts with various MLS teams, while senior goalkeeper David Meves was selected by the Portland Timbers in the MLS Supplemental Draft.

Senior midfielder Scott Caldwell, one of the homegrown contract signees, was named one of 15 semifinalists for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Player of the Year award.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 3 p.m. at the FirstEnergy Stadium in Akron, Ohio.